TIPPECANOE COUNTY – On January 16, 2025, just after 10:00 a.m., the Indiana State Police and the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department responded to a single-vehicle fatal crash on I-65 northbound near the 165-mile marker.
A preliminary investigation conducted by Trooper Fike revealed that a 2008 Hyundai Accent was traveling northbound on I-65 when it veered onto the shoulder on the west side of the road for an unknown reason. The driver overcorrected, causing the vehicle to cross back over the northbound lanes before leaving the roadway on the east side. The vehicle rolled over and came to rest on its roof.
Despite life-saving efforts, a passenger in the Hyundai was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Tippecanoe County Coroner’s Office. The passenger’s identity is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of their next of kin. The Tippecanoe County Coroner’s Office will release their name once these steps are complete.
The driver, identified as Framber Monserrat, 29, of Chicago, IL, and a juvenile passenger were transported by EMS to a Lafayette-area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
During the course of the investigation, Trooper Smallwood was able to gather information leading him to believe that Monserrat was under the influence at the time of the crash. Upon his release from the hospital, Monserrat was taken into custody and transported to the Tippecanoe County Jail.
Framber Monserrat has been preliminarily charged with the following:
- Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing Death – Level 5 Felony
- Neglect of a Dependent Causing Bodily Injury – Level 5 Felony
- Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Minor – Level 6 Felony
- Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated – Class C Misdemeanor
This information is based on a preliminary investigation conducted by the Indiana State Police. This remains an active and ongoing investigation. No further information will be released at this time.
Trooper Smallwood was assisted in this investigation by additional troopers from the Lafayette Post, the Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team, the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office, the Tippecanoe County Coroner’s Office, the Department of Child Services, Tippecanoe County EMS, the Sheffield Fire Department, and Joey’s Towing.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.